Potential restrictions on selling pets sent to city committee to chew on

Council has paused further action on puppy sales in Barrie.

A motion that city staff investigate the feasibility of amending Barrie’s business licensing bylaw to implement restrictions to only permit dogs sold through a pet shop if they’ve been acquired through reputable sources including, but not limited to, an animal shelter, registered humane society and licensed breeder, has been referred to finance and corporate services committee.

Coun. Ann-Marie Kungl, who sponsored the motion and then asked that it be referred to committee, wants to know what other municipalities have done, what is possible in bylaw enforcement, and how the city looks at licensing, kennels and breeding.

Coun. Gary Harvey didn’t support the referral and spoke against it.

“It’s become clear, this poses a whole host of issues… importation of animals, puppy mills,” he said. “That’s very difficult for us as a municipality to control, and it’s also stepping on the toes of provincial legislation.

“Animals welfare falls under provincial legislation. Importing animals is a federal matter. We have other levels of government and other levels of law that we have to watch we don’t impede on,” Harvey said. “If we did enact a bylaw, any provincial statute that it conflicts with will supersede any municipal bylaw when these matters were to hit a court of law.”

Before the motion was referred, council heard from Lindsay Fitzgerald, who has owned Doogan’s Pet Centre in Barrie since 2006. She has concerns if ‘licensed breeder’ is replaced by ‘community rescue groups’ in the motion being considered.

“Mine is the only business in our community that this change will affect,” she said. “I am concerned about how this will affect my business in the long term. I have no problem with change to a bylaw that is reasonable, but isolating (community) rescue (groups) as the only source for a dog is not reasonable.

“I buy from local breeders, most of whom are licensed kennels. These breeders operate under the rules and regulations of their municipalities and are subject to regular inspections,” Fitzgerald said. “I have my own set of standards that I require of my breeders and I built long-term relationships with them. We work together to make sure puppies are healthy, with good temperament.

“I understand that not every pet store lives up to my standards," she added. "There are good and bad, just like many industries. Changing the bylaw in Barrie to allow pet stores to sell from licensed breeders, as well as registered rescues, gives us control over where these dogs are coming from.”

Donna Power, who is with animal advocacy group Paws 4 Ontario, said the bylaw changes need another look.

“We’re asking that the pet stores just take the necessary steps to ensure that they are selling healthy, ethically bred animals to their clients,” she said. “An ethical breeder loves the breed, they normally breed only one type of dog and they only have usually one litter per year.”

Kim LeBlanc, of the Barrie Kennel and Obedience Club, offered to be a resource to the city on this matter. 

Finance and corporate services committee is next scheduled to meet March 23.